Explosives Scare Prompts Evacuations in Elsinore [UPDATED]

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A "suspicious device" found outside a vacant Lake Elsinore home Wednesday prompted sheriff's deputies to evacuate neighboring properties as a precaution and request assistance from the bomb squad before it was determined to be a simple road flare.

The object was located about 9 a.m. in front of a house near the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and Nebraska Street, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Deputy Robyn Flores said patrol deputies were summoned to investigate, but after a cursory look at the device, they became concerned and asked for members of the bomb squad to inspect it to determine whether there might be a threat. In the meantime, houses in the immediate vicinity were evacuated in the interest of safety, she said.

Technicians examined and secured the device, and by 1 p.m. found that it was not an explosive.

"After investigating the suspicious device, RSO's Hazardous Device Team identified the object as being a road flare!" the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said on Twitter.

#LakeElsinore UPDATE:

After investigating the suspicious device, RSO's Hazardous Device Team identified the object as being a road flare! The area has since been reopened. There were no injuries to persons or property.#SeeSomethingSaySomething #RSOproud #Teamwork
— Riverside County Sheriff PIO-West (@RSOPIOWest) July 11, 2018

--

— City News Service contributed to this report / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone